Swiss SUV-Atlas: Where off-roaders, the roads dominate

If one of them knows what cars to buy, the Swiss, then it is René Reymond. He is the managing Director of the automotive world, Amag in dübendorf ZH, the largest dealership in Switzerland. Amag imported and sold, among others, the VW and Audi brands.

to sell Almost half of all the cars, the Reymond and his colleagues, meanwhile, are Sport Utility Vehicles – so-called SUV. Some people call them sedans, off-roaders or all-Terrain. For Reymond, since 25 years in the business, is clear: "The customers want these vehicles."

it is also Clear that the SUV, there is always Controversy. They are beefy built – in, as a rule, they are wider, longer and higher than other passenger cars. Therefore, they are also considered to be more dangerous – for pedestrians, cyclists and Small charioteer.

Is involved in an off-roader driver in an accident, and possibly even guilty, to discharge the pent-up hatred. As of this week, as on the A3 in the bözberg tunnel in the Arm of a Porsche SUV at high speed into the rear of another car crashing through the collision, the smaller car between the Porsche and a load car was literally crushed. Three people died, and the Porsche driver survived.

The hatred goes so far that a lot of online portals had to disable the comment function on the articles. Even the "look" informed its readers on the Website: "We get mostly comments that violate our rules for the Forum. Unfortunately, we must therefore include this discussion."

, Each fifth car in Switzerland today is an off-roader

there are also attempts at policy level to ban the SUV. Prior to a little more than ten years trying to get the young Green with the off-road Initiative – the project was withdrawn.

But the issue today is virulent, especially in cities. After a heavy, also by a SUV driver caused the accident, politicians requested in the autumn in Berlin, a ban. And in Lausanne, an Anti-SUV-force was formed recently with the goal to eliminate vehicles from the city.

But the miserable Image cannot be harmed by the off-roaders nothing. On the contrary – the sales growth rates for years.

An evaluation of data of the Federal office for roads (Astra) now shows: Switzerland is a true Paradise for the SUV. Not less than 850'000 of such cars are registered here, out of a total of 4.6 million listed Passenger vehicles. Almost every fifth registered car in Switzerland is thus an off-roader.

In Switzerland there is no official Definition of what constitutes an SUV. The evaluation is therefore based on the criteria of the German Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt for SUV and all-terrain vehicles.

And the analysis of the Astra data shows for the first time, in which municipalities there are on most of the SUV driver. The trend is for the rate per 1000 inhabitants is higher in the mountain areas than in the middle of the country or in the big conurbations. Leader with 754 SUV per 1000 inhabitants of the municipality of Appenzell is. However, it is a special case, because the car rental industry and the authorities in Switzerland to an agreement have agreed to register the rental car in Appenzell and the Canton of Vaud.

Also very high values for the very small communities of Montagny-près-Yverdon, VD (extrapolated 692 SUV per 1000 inhabitants) and Wachseldorn BE (extrapolated 587 SUV). In General, the following applies: In the hilly regions, people drive all-terrain vehicle.

A completely different picture emerges when only the off-roader from the upper and luxury class are taken into account – such as, for example, a BMW X5, an Audi Q8 or a Jaguar F-Pace. These models are still heavier and heavier and above all more expensive. The Audi Q8 will cost according to the Website of Audi in Switzerland for at least 90'000 francs, and he weighs more than two tons.

SUV's are not"Housewives Panzer"

dangers of the expensive SUV to be VS models, in particular, in the swanky tourist areas around Gstaad, BE, St. Moritz, GR, and Crans-Montana. High rates but also the municipalities of Geneva, Zug and Zurich. Anyone who has money in a tax-privileged community lives, buys, apparently, an expensive SUV.

For the auto industry is out of the question that there are the clients that such diamonds demand a shot. Dealership managing Director, Reymond says: "At the beginning of each sales call, needs assessment. We ask the customer, for example, what kind of car you are driving currently. How is your family planning looks like. And what your leisure activities are." Ultimately, the choice case often on a SUV model, "because the customers want to have a lot of space, all-wheel drive and a good all-round visibility".

According to Reymond, Switzerland was "for many years, a multi-country". SUV would meet the same needs. And because they offer the raised Seating position and a better Overview and more convenient for Boarding to be covered you to ultimately all the customer's needs "very well".

If you can give the surveys of the industry Believe, then the Upgrade continues on the streets. The car manufacturer Ford interviewed recently 5000 car owners in Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK, want to buy a new car, to the attitude of the SUV. According to the results of the all-terrain limousines are for "fun" and for an "active life style". Many of the respondents in a off-roader there is also a "success icon" you feel when Driving "powerful and powerful".

Particularly striking, especially mothers with children living at home, seem to prefer the SUV. In the survey, almost two-thirds of them indicated that for a SUV, the feeling of safety is crucial.

However, the stereotype of the "housewife tank does not seem to" agree to mediate data, at least a different picture. The analysis shows that around 2.5 million passenger cars and men are registered as the holder and around 1.5 million women. However, when considering only the SUV, the proportion of women among the registered holders. Even more dominant the men are, if only the luxury models are considered in this category percentage of males is in the case of the registered holders is three times higher than the proportion of women.

The roads and Parking spaces are too narrow for SUV

it is Clear now that there is also need because of the off-roader in Switzerland in the future, wider roads and Parking. For years, the Swiss Association of road and Transport professionals (VSS), is working to the Annoyance of green circles on the new standards, which would then be taken into account in the construction of new infrastructures. The work happens largely in Secret.

The subject is apparently so sensitive that no one wants to answer questions. A spokesman for the Astra refers questions to the VSS. Its President, Jean-Marc Jeanneret makes a request, however, unanswered.

employees: Nadja Pastega

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Created: 30.11.2019, 23:34 PM